Arlington Bulletin Board -- April 18

Know of something missing from the community calendar? E-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome. For more volunteer opportunities, classes, announcements visit http://www.arlingtonconnection.com and click on Community.

Thursday/April 19

Open House. 7 to 9 p.m. Join in an update and overview of the status of Long Bridge Park and Aquatics Health & Fitness Facility in Arlington. To be held at Arlington County Board Room, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., third floor, Arlington.

“Cybersecurity in a Time of Defense Austerity.” U.S. Rep. Jim Moran hosts a panel discussion on the growing threat of cyber attacks on national defense and national infrastructure at a time of shrinking budgets and limited resources. 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Virginia Tech Research Center, East and West Falls Church Room, Second Floor, 900 N. Glebe Road, Arlington.

Through May 21

Destination Trip Raffle to support Arlington Free Clinic. Participants purchase the chance to win a four-night stay for two at a Marriott property anywhere in the world (excluding Ritz-Carlton properties). The prize includes transportation costs up to but not exceeding $2,500.

Each raffle ticket costs $100, and only 350 raffle tickets will be sold. Winning ticket will be drawn on May 21. Visit www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org and click on the Donate Now button, or contact Emily Billingsley at 703-979-1425, Ext. 143, ebillingsley@arlingtonfreeclinic.org

Friday/May 11

"Fundamentals of Chinese Information Warfare and Impacts on the Western World." Noon to 2 p.m. Guest speaker will be William T. Hagestad II, author of the new book 21st Century Chinese Cyberwarfare (IT Governance, 2012). Lunch will be served and RSVP is required. Provide name and affiliation to Laurie Kinney, Director of Communications and Outreach, at lkinney@potomacinstitute.org or 703-525-0770. At the Institute, 901 North Stuart St., Suite 200, Arlington.

“Employment First: A Capitol Idea.” APSE (formerly the Association for Persons in Supported Employment) will host the 23rd Annual APSE National Conference at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington. The APSE national conference is an educational event with featured Keynote presenters, Temple Grandin and Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) Commissioner Sharon Lewis. Breakout sessions will cover topics such as job development and marketing, transition from school to adult life, public policy and funding, quality service delivery, leadership and personal development, mental health and substance abuse, autism and employment, and consumer, family and self-advocacy. To register, visit www.APSE.org

Ongoing

Are you a civic or homeowner association, community nonprofit organization, civic service club, school-related group or ad hoc neighborhood group? Did you know you can request free trees for your private property thanks to Arlington County’s Tree Canopy Grant.

To get more information, go to www.arlingtonenvironment.org/community-action/tree-canopy/. You must complete the online interest form by April 13 and the final application is due June 8. If needed, applicants will be matched with a tree steward for assistance in selecting the right tree.

The Tree Canopy Fund, which provides for planting trees to restore and increase Arlington County’s tree coverage, was launched in 2009, after Arlington County Board approval in 2007. It is administered by Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and the Arlington County Urban Forestry Commission.

If you wonder how to grow great tomatoes, which tree is best for your home landscape, or what strange insect you have found, VCE Master Gardeners can help you find the answers at weekly Plant Clinics held in the following locations:

Arlington County Farmer’s Market, intersection of N. 14th Street and Courthouse Road, Saturdays, from 8 to 11 am, April 14 through September 29.

Old Town Farmers’ Market, 301 King Street, Alexandria, Saturdays, from 6:30 to 9:30 am, May 5 through September 29.

Del Ray Farmers’ Market, intersection of Mt. Vernon and East Oxford Avenues, Saturdays, from 8:30 to 11 am, May 5 through September 29.

VCE Master Gardener Help Desk (703-228-6414), or mgarlalex@gmail.com; staffed from 9 a.m. through noon, Monday through Friday, year round.

Home gardeners are also welcome to visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) office at 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington, 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., and the website at www.ext.vt.edu.

Donations of Dresses. Washington-Lee High School will once again be holding its annual "Formals For Five" sale on April 25 and 26. To enable all girls to afford a dress for Prom, gently used formal and semi-formal dresses are being collected, as well as jewelry and handbags. The sale will be open to girls at all Arlington high schools. All proceeds will be donated to Arlington Public Schools. Tax receipts can be obtained for value of donation. To donate a dress, contact Coordinator Kristi Berkland at promdressdonation@gmail.com for information on drop-off locations.

Rock Spring Garden Club of Arlington County will hold this spring its 2012 Garden of the Year Award

competition for Arlington gardens. One Arlington residential garden will be selected as Garden of the Year. Gardens can be nominated by a homeowner, neighbor, friend or relative. Applications will be available

by mid-March from RSGC's website: http://rockspringgardenclub.com/

Application deadline is May 1. Judging will take place in mid-May.

Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs (AMEN Inc.) seeks volunteers who will take social workers’ calls from home 1 to 5 p.m., one or two weekday afternoons per month. Approve requests for emergency financial assistance for their clients. Must have some computer skills to record requests on AMEN’s laptop computer. Training and ongoing consultation is provided. To learn more about this opportunity, contact 703-558-0035 or amen@emergencyneeds.org. To learn more, see www.emergencyneeds.org

Ongoing

How you found out about your parents' divorce? Family therapist Vikki Stark is conducting a study of the impact on children of how they learned about their parents’ divorce. If you are an adult who was a child/teen when your parents got divorced or are currently a child/teen of divorce - help children in the future through your participation. Visit http://SurveyMonkey.com/s/ChildDivorceStudy to access the questionnaire online.

The Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth & Families is seeking applications from individuals interested in becoming community representatives on the Partnership Board. Board members work with the Partnership’s paid staff to facilitate conversations among various community and school groups in Arlington in an effort promote the Developmental-Asset-Based Model of child and adolescent development (http://www.search-institute.org/). Board membership involves regular attendance at a monthly meeting and active participation in one of our committees. See www.arlingtonpartnershipforyouth.org/. Interest individuals should contact Barbara Gomez (bgblank@verizon.net) or Kim Durand (Kdurand@arlingtonva.us).

The Glee Club. A new show choir called The Glee Club is being formed as part of the expanded offerings of the Teens and Theatre Company in Arlington. The Glee Club will meet Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Students will learn and even create routines to show tunes and pop songs. The Glee Club will be broken down into fall, winter and spring sessions so that students who participate in sports or other seasonal programs can still join. Registration forms are available online at www.teensandtheatre.org. Call 703-527-4061.

Our Lady Queen of Peace is seeking to replenish its food pantry. The following are particularly needed: rice (large bags appreciated, the pantry will rebag), dry beans (again, pantry will repackage), canned vegetables, soup, small jars of peanut butter, small jars of jelly, pasta and pasta sauce. 2700 South 19th Street. http://www.ourladyqueenofpeace.org/

Second Sunday

PFLAG of Arlington. 3 to 4:30 p.m. PFLAG promotes the equality and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered persons and their families. Meets on the second Sunday of each month, at the Unitarian Universalist Church at George Mason Drive and Route 50. Contact: aly.pflagdc@gmail.com.